What Does Miles Kelly's Return Mean For Georgia Tech Basketball In 2023?

Kelly opted to stay at Georgia Tech instead of going to the 2023 NBA Draft

Jackson Caudell | Jun 1, 2023

What Does Miles Kelly's Return Mean For Georgia Tech Basketball In 2023? /

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Georgia Tech and head coach Damon Stoudamire got a big win last night when guard Miles Kelly decided that he would not stay in the 2023 NBA Draft and would return to Georgia Tech. Kelly entered his name into the NBA Draft pool back in April but maintained his collegiate eligibility, leaving the door open for him to come back to Georgia Tech.

GT let’s do it 🐝 pic.twitter.com/xxGXTwWokk
— Miles Kelly (@Kelly5Miles) May 31, 2023

Kelly averaged 14.8 PPG and got in double figures in 25 games during this past season, including setting his career high in a single game with 30 points against Syracuse on February 28th. He also set the program record for free throw shooting percentage (89.83%) in a single season. He averaged 14.6 minutes per game as a freshman during the 2021-2022 season and shot 40.7% from the floor and 34.7% from three-point range.

That gives Stoudamire an experienced scorer back who should mesh well with the new transfer class. Kelly, Deebo Coleman, Lance Terry, and Kyle Sturdivant are the players returning from last year's team and they are joining an athletic group of transfers that might lack the experience of the returning players, but have a high ceiling and Stoudamire is hoping to mix those elements together and have Georgia Tech contending in the ACC.

Miles Kelly is returning to Georgia Tech for another season / Georgia Tech Athletics

So how big is this for Georgia Tech next season?

Kelly was not an All-ACC player last season, but of the returning players, he is the one that has that kind of ceiling and I think Stoudamire is going to try and mold Kelly into a two-way threat that can take Georgia Tech where it wants to go.

Stoudamire had a key role with the Boston Celtics and the reason I am so high on his hire at Georgia Tech is that I think he can help develop players at this level, which has not been happening at Georgia Tech.

Kelly was arguably the most talented player on Georgia Tech last season and with coaching and development, he could be an NBA Draft pick. I think Kelly gives Georgia Tech a scoring threat and three-point shooting threat that they would not have had if he had stayed in the NBA Draft. Kelly had the sixth-best three-point percentage in the ACC last season and it was not from a lack of attempts either. Kelly averaged the fourth-most attempted threes per game in the ACC last season and he showed in the second matchup with Syracuse that he can be a high-volume scorer that can get going at anytime.

One thing that I think Kelly can bring to the table is that he hasn't yet is defense. He has not been a great defender up to this point, but he has not been a bad one. At 6'6 175 LBS, he has the potential to be a good perimeter defender, which would raise his draft stock heading into next year.

I am not here to say that Kelly coming back instantly makes Georgia Tech a contender for the ACC Championship or a lock for the NCAA Tournament. There are still questions to be answered and programs don't always instantly turn around in one year. However, Kelly's return is a success for this team heading into this year, and look for him to have a career-best season for the Yellow Jackets.

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